Therapeutic Touch

Therapeutic Touch is a healing concept that is supposed to help cure or alleviate pain and anxiety, while also healing various health conditions or illnesses. Those who practice and use this type of therapy rely on the Bio-Energetic Field that each of us is believed to have, and it is believed by those who practice and use this therapy that healing can take place by interacting with that bio-energetic field.

Where Does Therapeutic Touch Come From?

This therapy was developed by Dora Kunz and Delores Krieger, Ph.D. Kunz was the President of the Theosophical Society of America, and Krieger was a Registered Nurse and an instructor at New York University, in the Nursing Program, in the 1970’s.

Many people believe that this practice is no different from the ancient practice of ‘Laying on Hands.’ The developers of the therapy, however, claim that it isn’t the same thing because it is not religious in nature and has nothing to do with faith healing. However, when you look at the evidence, and what practitioners of this therapy have to say, this therapy really isn’t any different than faith healing. Ironically, although the word ‘touch’ appears, the therapy involves no physical contact with the client or patient, and is often referred to as distance healing.

Evidence against Therapeutic Touch

Several different studies have been performed concerning this type of therapy, but none have been conclusive. What most scientists have found is that the therapy works less than 50% of the time – approximately 44% of the time – and that because of this, all results are based on chance alone, and not on the healing practice. Chance, in and of itself, is considered to be 50/50 – as in, there is a fifty percent chance that something will occur, and a 50% chance that it will not occur.

Because of these studies, most insurance companies will not pay for this type of therapy, and most traditional doctors do not recommend this type of therapy as alternative treatment, especially if modern treatment is being discontinued in favor of this therapy.

Will Therapeutic Touch Work for You?

While there is strong evidence that this type of therapy is not effective, the truth of the matter is that it is as effective as you believe it will be, in most cases. This is based on the theory that we have incredibly powerful minds that have the ability to heal us, and that what we truly believe in our minds is not only possible, but probable. Therefore, even practitioners believe that it isn’t the practitioner that brings the healing about, but the ill individual themselves, due to their belief in the practice of Therapeutic Touch.